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Should Your Organization Be an E-Commerce Provider?
E-commerce means using online electronic data communications to perform or enable transactions, usually financial, to buy or sell, subscribe to or join something. The term e-commerce is used for transactions performed on the Internet, and within that, usually on the Web. Many of us have started using e-commerce as clients, and we will use it more and more. Eventually e-commerce will be the routine way many transactions are done. The names of large organizations involved in e-commerce have become household words. As the numbers of transactions and dollar amounts rise, news media devote more and more coverage to it. Nonprofits arrived in the e-commerce news in a big way over the last few months; Disaster relief agencies found their online donations surpassing those that came in from all other sources. Many nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies can be e-commerce providers -- maybe your organization. Why Your Organization? Tech News readers -- people who direct and manage nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government agencies -- have products and services they already sell or could sell, although they do not necessarily think of them that way. Your organization’s products and services may include memberships, publications, workshops, seminars, services you perform, referrals, opportunities to volunteer or to donate, gift shops, and many others. Donations include potential donors’ time and what they accomplish for your organization. For potential donors who are not yet involved, e-commerce could help the process of discovery. Possible Approaches for Your Organization E-commerce is more than just putting up a Web site or using e-mail. Here are some typical questions. How can we provide ways for people to shop? You can do that, with limited design flexibility, on a commercial e-commerce site and be charged for using it, or on your own site using commercial software at low dollar cost. You can also have a site custom-built -- at substantial cost. How would people pay us? Customers can pay by credit card or electronic banking debit via the Web. They can also pay you separately, by credit card via telephone or fax, or by check via paper mail. How do we provide for delivery or fulfillment? The same as if the transaction took place some other way. (In the future, products and services will increasingly be delivered electronically.) Mechanics and Transaction Charges There are costs involved in e-commerce, including the charges levied by banks, intermediaries, and credit card companies. Many nonprofits find ways to avoid or reduce their costs. Umbrella groups and management assistance providers can help with this. What nonprofit e-commerce sites have you seen and liked? Have you looked into providing e-commerce? What have you found? Let Tech News know -- we’ll publish information about these things and thank you in print for helping your colleagues learn about the best and avoid the worst.
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Planning & Management.... An Agency Profile: Transitional Services for New York, Inc. (August, 2003) Software for Nonprofit Accounting (March, 2003) How to Accurately Plan Your Agency's IT Budget: A Workshop Synopsis (October, 2002) Would You Like To Improve Agency Communications? Develop an Intranet! (October, 2002) "Something from Nothing" - How Housing Works built a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure on a shoestring budget. (August, 2002) Making the Build-or-Buy Decision: A Thorough Analysis Before You Decide (February, 2002) Online Facilitation (December, 2001) The ABCs of ASPs (November, 2001) The Pros and Cons of ASPs (November, 2001) Using an Application Service Provider To Transform Your Agency (November, 2001) The Nonprofit Web Site: Tips for Attracting and Retaining Visitors (April, 2001) A Case Management System Case Study: Providence House (January, 2001) Covering Web Site Costs and Online Fund Development (January, 2001) I&R Best Practices: Profiles of Three NYC I&R Services (November, 2000) One To One Marketing for Nonprofits (May, 2000) Planning for Success: A Practical Approach to Technology (March, 2000) Networking for the Small Nonprofit: The Asian American Federation of New York (December, 1999) Developing a Technology Plan: Key to Getting Needed Funds (October, 1999) Should Your Organization be an E-Commerce Provider? (October, 1999) Stretch Your Technology Budget - Take Advantage of Product Donations (June, 1999) Contact Tracking That Works (April, 1999) How We're Using Information Technology to Further Our Mission (February, 1999) PeopleKnowledge: One Solution to Data Management (December, 1998) Softward Licensing: Protecting Your Organization From Lawsuits (October, 1998) Other Articles of Interest.... GuideStar: Getting Form 990 Online (October, 2001) Nonprofits Benefit from ePayments Technology (April, 2001) Paving the Way to the Future: DYCD's Comprehensive Contract Management System (January, 2001) Creating the Paperless Office (November, 2000) Globix Technology Grants Help Nonprofits Realize Operating Efficiencies (November, 2000) TECH-U-NET: Providing Technology Guidance to Nonprofits (November, 2000) Technology Technical Assistance: Why Use it, How to Manage it (May, 2000) New Web Site Facilitates Quality Program and Evaluation Planning (March, 2000) Lessons From the Life of a Learning and Access Center (December, 1999) Distance Learning and Training can be Low-Key, Low-Tech, and Low-Budget (October, 1999) If Your Computer is Looking a Little Green Around the Ears, it Might be a Virus (June, 1999) Program Donates Technology to Nonprofits (April, 1999) New York Today Offers Free Web Services for Nonprofits (February, 1999) Register Your Internet Domain Name Now (February, 1999) Diffusion Fund Enables Advanced Telecommunications for Disadvantaged. . .(December, 1998) BrookynX - A Guide to Getting Your Communities on the Net (October, 1998) Learning the FAQs: Free Education and Training for Nonprofits (October, 1998) |
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